Dorset Vet Wins Petplan Equine Vet Of The Year Award

Petplan Equine Head of Marketing, Isabella von Mesterhazy with Equine Vet of the Year, Chris Pearce Dorset vet Chris Pearce from the Barn Equine Surgery in Wimborne has won the prestigious annual Petplan Equine Vet of the Year Award. The Award, which has been sponsored for the past four years by the UK’s specialist equine insurer Petplan Equine, was announced at the glittering annual Animal Health Trust (AHT) Equestrian Awards’ gala dinner, held at the Lancaster London Hotel last night. Horse owners from all over the UK have been nominating vets who they feel are worthy of the prestigious title of Petplan Equine Vet of the Year. With over 185 nominations the independent judging panel had a difficult job choosing a winner from the three outstanding finalists. However, they unanimously agreed that the strength of Chris’s nominations placed him as the vet most worthy of this year’s title. Isabella von Mesterhazy, Petplan Equine’s Marketing Manager, commented that the award recognises those vets who go the extra mile in providing an outstanding service to horse owners. “All this year’s nominees have shown great commitment to their profession making choosing just one winner very difficult. However, Chris’s dedication and commitment, combined with his extensive work in equine dentistry and the support shown to his clients really stood out.” Horses have always been important in Chris’s life. Having ridden since the age of 11, he competed for his country in modern pentathlon as a teenager. After qualifying as a vet at the University of Liverpool in 1990, Chris worked in Worcestershire for three years before moving to Dorset in 1996. In 2001 he became the first veterinary surgeon to qualify as an Equine Dental Technician, an area in which he now specialises. The judges were particularly impressed with his pioneering work in advancing equine dentistry, which will have a real impact on horses’ welfare, comfort and longevity, as well as his understanding of the importance of horses to their owners and the support and empathy he demonstrates when working with their horses. "I was genuinely surprised and really delighted to have just been nominated", said Chris. On receiving the award, he commented: "As this is a people’s award, I would like to thank all the people who have voted for me. I love what I do, I am extremely passionate about it and that’s what really drives me. Winning this award is a great way to raise awareness of the importance of veterinary dentistry.” The Animal Health Trust Equestrian Awards are designed to recognise the outstanding achievements made by horses, riders, owners and trainers throughout the equestrian world. Since the Petplan Charitable Trust was founded in 1994 it has raised over £5million, almost £500,000 of which has been donated to the AHT to fund research and development.

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